A township police officer is facing criminal charges after punching a suspect who was already handcuffed and in the back seat of a police car. Prosecutors say the cop also tried to cover up the incident.
Todd Ritter, 54, of Millstone, was charged last week with third-degree tampering with public records, fourth-degree falsifying and tampering with records, and a disorderly persons offense of assault.
Ritter was suspended without pay from his $122,000 job pending the resolution of the criminal case. He has almost 22 years of service.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office released few details about the incident but, in response to an Open Public Records Act request by New Jersey 101.5, released a copy of a video recorded by a camera in the police officer's car.
In the two-minute video, dated Feb. 12, the suspect is seen handcuffed in the backseat of the car telling police on the scene that he had been beaten by an officer even though he had not resisted. Posted By PSmooth